Get involved! Share your talents, resources and heritage with your neighbors. Contact Kayla at or (206) 957-4649 about the opportunities listed below.

Latin@ Fashion Show -

Show off your new pair of boots, a favorite sombrero or your Frida Kahlo costume at El Centro's multicultural, intergenerational fashion show!

We're looking for community members of all ages, races and styles for a fashion parade. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2008.

Raffle Prize Donations -

Are your frequent flier miles about to expire? Do you have a free week at your timeshare? Participate in our upcoming Cinco de Mayo raffle by donating one of our coveted prizes. Consider national or international airfare, vacation time at a condo or luxury services at spas and resorts as possible prizes. Your donation is tax-deductible. 

Dance. Rap. Read a poem. Play a song. Sing. Star on El Centro's stage! You don't have to be a professional, but simply have an act to share with your neighbors.

Raúl Salinas, the dean of Chicano Poets and a strong social justice advocate for racial minorities and indigenous struggles, with a strong connection to El Centro de la Raza and the Northwest, passed away Wednesday morning in his native Austin, TX.

Salinas participated in the occupation of El Centro de la Raza.  His remarkable poetry began an extraordinary legacy that lives today in the arena of arts and literature programs at El Centro.

Last October, many of you joined El Centro de la Raza in asking a question vital to our future: "What Kind of World Will We Leave Our Children?" 

Now, El Centro de la Raza is proud to stand beside His Holiness the Dalai Lama for an event designed to ask that question and nurture our communities to work for an answer.  From April 11-15, Seattle's children, youth, parents, educators, businesses and community leaders will join with the Dalai Lama and other distinguished guests for "an unprecedented gathering."  Please visit the Seeds of Compassion website for more information.

Get involved in the Dalai Lama's visit to Seattle through El Centro:

• For a free ticket to see the Dalai Lama speak on Saturday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m., please e-mail your full name to donor@elcentrodelaraza.org before Friday, February 29.  Location to be announced.
• Join El Centro's all-ages Peace Choir in preparation for the Dalai Lama's visit.  All are welcome to practice every Thursday from 6-7 p.m. in La Cocina Popular of El Centro de la Raza. 
  
• Wear your culture's traditional dress to a Culture Walk on Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m., location to be announced.

What do iTunes, Target, eBay and Home Depot have in common?  They will all financially support El Centro de la Raza this year--if you take the initiative!  The same people who developed GoodSearch now introduce GoodShop.  GoodSearch will still donate a penny every time you search online with El Centro as your designated non-profit.  Now, simply by making your regular purchases online through GoodShop, associated businesses contribute 1 to 37.5% of the sale to your chosen organization. 

El Centro de la Raza and Seattle Public Libraries are happy to announce a new project for the José Martí Child Development Center that will help continue our goals of child and family education and literacy. 

After a kick-off family meeting on January 31, children started taking four books home each week, all written in their native language.  Pre-school teachers and librarians help select the appropriate reading level to encourage parents and children to spend time reading together.

Over 3,500 people attended the January 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Franklin High School. The Master of Ceremonies was Seattle City Councilman Larry Gossett, and El Centro Founder/Exec. Dir. Roberto Maestas was featured as a keynote speaker.

The rally focused on this year's theme, "End Racism, Poverty & War", with Maestas speaking on the historic 1968 student sit-in and lockdown at Franklin High School. Summing up the day's events was a long-time volunteer: "Let's all work together to form MLK, Jr.'s 'Beloved Community.'"

Together with Key Bank and United Way of King County, El Centro de la Raza hosted a free tax preparation event on February 2.  Our sincere gracias go to each of the dedicated individuals who made this event possible.